Story highlights

Italy held to 0-0 draw against Sweden

Swedes qualify with 1-0 aggregate win

Italians are four-time World Cup winners

(CNN)It was back in September that the president of the Italian Football Association had said that not qualifying for next year's FIFA World Cup would be "an apocalypse" for the four-time World Cup winners.

On Monday, it was as if the four horsemen had ridden into Milan as the Azzurri failed to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 1958 after a playoff defeat against Sweden.

Italy, who will not compete in the tournament for only the second time in their history -- they declined to play at the inaugural competition in 1930 -- were held to a goalless draw at the San Siro, which allowed the Swedes to advance 1-0 on aggregate.

Pressure on Italy boss

Failure to qualify has heaped pressure on Italy boss Gian Piero Ventura, with the sport daily Corriere Dello Sport calling for him to step down, while the headline of an article in La Gazetta dello Sport was 'Italy, this is the apocalypse.'

The article continued: "We will not be with you and you will not be with us. A love so great must be reserved for other things. There will be inevitable consequences but let's just see if they stop with Ventura or go further."

Ventura, 69, who is under contract until 2020, told reporters at a news conference: "I have not resigned because I haven't spoken to the president yet.

"Resignation? I have to evaluate an infinity of issues. We will meet with the federation and discuss it."

Sweden celebrates

Playing in front of 70,000 fans, Italy were the dominant side -- enjoying 75% of possession and 23 shots on goal compared to Sweden's four -- but they could not overturn Sweden's first-leg advantage.

Other big hitters stumble

Italy will not be the only major nation missing from next year's tournament in Russia, which starts on June 14.

The Netherlands, back-to-back South American champions Chile, the United States, which had been a fixture at the finals for the last seven tournaments, and Euro 2016 semifinalists Wales have all failed to qualify.

Elsewhere, Croatia drew 0-0 with Greece but advanced to the finals 4-1 on aggregate, while Switzerland broke Northern Irish hearts by holding on to another goalless draw, advancing 1-0 on aggregate after a controversial penalty in the first leg.

In the coming days, the playoffs continue with the Republic of Ireland facing Denmark, New Zealand traveling to Peru and Australia hosting Honduras to determine the remaining three slots.